Sierra Leone is facing a crisis that threatens to unravel the very fabric of our society. The rampant spread of kush—a cheap, potent, and highly addictive synthetic drug—has become an epidemic, particularly among the youth. This scourge, devastating families and communities, is a glaring symptom of the government’s and law enforcement’s failure to protect our people. Under the watchful eyes of the police, the kush crisis has spiralled out of control, leaving behind a trail of shattered lives and lost potentials.
In the ghettos of Freetown, Bo, Makeni, and other cities across the country, kush has taken root, enslaving a generation of young people who should be the future leaders, innovators, and builders of our nation. Instead, they are being reduced to shadows of their former selves, caught in the grip of addiction, with little hope of escape. The rise of kush addiction is not just a tragedy; it is a damning indictment of our country’s systemic failures, from the lack of economic opportunities to the inadequacy of our healthcare and law enforcement systems.
The role of government authorities in this crisis cannot be overstated. While they pay lip service to the war on drugs, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Kush is openly bought and sold on street corners, in markets, and even in schools, with little to no intervention from the police. This pervasive availability is not the result of some well-hidden criminal network; it is happening in plain sight, with the authorities seemingly turning a blind eye.
The police, tasked with upholding the law and protecting citizens, have been conspicuously absent in the fight against kush. Reports of corruption and complicity within the police force are widespread, with officers allegedly accepting bribes to look the other way or even facilitating the drug trade themselves. This is not just a failure of enforcement; it is a betrayal of public trust. When the very institutions meant to safeguard society are complicit in its destruction, the result is a breakdown of law and order, where criminals operate with impunity and the most vulnerable are left to fend for themselves.
The government’s response, or lack thereof, to the kush crisis reflects a broader pattern of neglect and incompetence. Despite repeated warnings from community leaders, health professionals, and concerned citizens, the authorities have been slow to act, offering only piecemeal solutions that fail to address the root causes of the problem. There has been little investment in drug prevention programs, public education campaigns, or rehabilitation services. Instead, the government’s approach has been reactive, focusing on punitive measures that do little to deter addiction and often exacerbate the problem by driving it further underground.
But the kush crisis is not just about drugs; it is a symptom of deeper social and economic issues that have been left unaddressed for far too long. Unemployment, particularly among the youth, is at alarming levels, leaving many young people with little hope for the future. In the absence of meaningful opportunities, they turn to drugs as a means of escape, self-medication, or simply to pass the time. The government’s failure to create jobs, provide education, and offer support services has created a fertile ground for kush and other forms of substance abuse to thrive.
The healthcare system, already stretched to its limits, is ill-equipped to deal with the growing number of people affected by kush addiction. There are few, if any, specialized treatment centers, and those that do exist are often underfunded and understaffed. Families struggling to save their loved ones are left with nowhere to turn, forced to watch as addiction destroys lives, one hit at a time. The mental health aspect of addiction is also woefully neglected, with little attention paid to the psychological and emotional factors that drive drug use.
What is needed now is a comprehensive and coordinated response from the government, law enforcement, and civil society. This crisis cannot be solved by the police alone, nor can it be addressed through punitive measures alone. We need a holistic approach that includes prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as efforts to tackle the underlying social and economic conditions that fuel addiction. This means investing in education and job creation, strengthening the healthcare system, and rooting out corruption within the police force.
Moreover, the government must engage with communities, listen to their concerns, and work with them to find solutions. Too often, policies are made in isolation, without input from those on the front lines of the crisis. Community leaders, parents, teachers, and young people themselves must be part of the conversation if we are to develop effective strategies to combat kush and other forms of drug abuse.
The kush epidemic is a national emergency that demands urgent and decisive action. The future of our country depends on our ability to protect our youth and provide them with the opportunities they need to thrive. If the government continues to ignore this crisis, the consequences will be dire—not just for those directly affected by addiction, but for the entire nation. We cannot afford to lose the next generation to drugs. The time for action is now.
This is a clarion call to the government and law enforcement agencies to fulfill their duty to protect the citizens of Sierra Leone, more so the youth. Our nation’s future depends on it. The battle against kush is not just about eradicating a drug—it’s about restoring hope, dignity, and a future for Sierra Leone. It is time for those in power to act decisively, transparently, and with the urgency this crisis demands. The lives of our youth, and indeed the soul of our nation, hang in the balance.
